Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-21
POPULAR SCIENCE.
Every Day Items of Discovery FOR racti
cal People.

Every Day IBe ms OF discovery E9T TbCll-
cal People.
The wonderfully well-colOred articles
of bronze now seen in the market, show
ing all tints end adhering thoroughly to
the metal, are made by French process
which is no longer a secret. The methOd
of manufacture lies in the use Of sOlu-
tons of suIphides of antimony and ar
senic, which are applied to the bronze or
brass articles. After thoroughly washing
them with water they are thoroughly
dried, and then the suIphide solution is
applied with brush. The best way is
TO begin with a dilute solution Of
ammonia, giving one application.
After drying, the coating is
brushed, and then the dilute solution of
sulphide of arsenic in ammonia is used,
which produces a yellow color. The
Oftener This sulpLide of arsenic is applied
the browner Will be the color, end deep
tint may thus be fiually obtsined. By
solutions of sulphide OF anthony, either
in ammOGia or in sulphide of ammonia,
the tint is reddish, and II Is possible III
this way to obtain either tn most deli
cate red or the deepest dark red. Ii
some Of the parts Of the article are rubbed
more strongly high metallic lustre is
Obtained. Ammonia or sulphide OF an
mOnia reab5Orbs the brOnzing, and in this
way defective spots may be improved. 1t
is possible also to use solutions in caus-
tic soda or potash, or the sulphides of
either
The Electric Review gives the following
method Of cleaning brass: Make d mix
lure of one part common nitric acid and
one part sulphuric aCid in a stone jar;
then place ready pale of fresh water and
box Of sawdust. Dip the articles to be
cleaned in the acid, then rinse them in
water, and afterward rub them with saw
dust. This Immediately changes them TO
a brilliant color. If the brass be greasy
it must first be dipped in strong sou
ton -. caustic potash or soda. This
Gus the grease go the acid has power TO
act.
A wooden tank may be rendered Capa-
BILE of withstaudIng the effects of nitric
or suIphuric acids by the following meth
cd: Cover the inside with paraffne; go
over the inside with 8 sadirOn heated TO
the temperature used in ironing Clothes
melt the para fine under the iron so as to
drive it into the wood as much as posi-
BILE; then with a cooler iron melt on a
coat thick enough to completely cover
the wood.
To preserve and renew the insulating
power of ebOnite or YulCanite supports
Mr.. Marley suggests: First, washing the
ebOnite with water and rubbing it well
till dry, and second, mOisten the surface
Of the ebOnite with 8nhydrOus paraffine
oil. To prepare this put quart Ct COM
mon pardffine ana an ounce Of sodium in
to bottle
Equal parts Of strong ammonia water,
ether and alcohol form valuable clean
ing compound. Pass piece Of blOtting-
paper under the grease spot, mOisten
"greedy," then with the mixture, and rub
the spot with it. IN moment it is dis
solved, saponi1ed and absorbed by the
sponge and blotter.
When q varnish, few days subsequent
to having been laid on, loses its gloss, it
is said to have "clouded." This accident
seldom happens except in damp weather.
A Yarnish freshly spread and exposed to
damp air becomes covered by a mist
VIII ca leaves its mark upon it. This de-
feet may be remedied by exposure to the
sun.
To harden wood pulleys: Soft maple is
often used in the construction of friction
pulleys. If it be boiled in olive oil it will
prove beneficial in number of ways.
It will harden the timber and render It
less liable to split, and at the same time
the gear will slip more after such treat
ment.
Professor Do5ralsanene Of st. Peters